A star is born?

Briggs performing live at the Folly, January 11th. With a spontaneous, improvised interpretive dance by Calvin.

A Wesley Hymn

Charles Wesley wrote a collection of 6 hymn texts in response to a 1750 earthquake that severely, but not catastrophically, shook London. Consistent with the common theology of his time, much of the lyrics see in the earthquake a summons to repentence and righteous living. The last of the six, however, is a setting of Psalm 46. Thanks to the folks at Duke Divinity School for releasing this material in light of the catastrophe in Haiti.

Let earth’s inmost center quake,

And shatter’d nature mourn,

Let the unwieldy mountains shake,

And fall by storms uptorn,

Fall with all their trembling load

Far into the ocean hurl’d,

Lo! We stand secure in God,

Amidst a ruin’d world.

Prayers for Haiti

Our choirs sang this song this mornings, instead of what we had planned. I found this nice article of faith in Haiti while catching my breath between services. Finally this picture above seems to convey a sense of anguish an hopefulness all at once. We're having a good thought for the family of my former colleague from Eastern NC, and most recently head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, Sam Dixon, who died in the rubble in Port-au-Prince doing the work he loved.

Thanks to Reuters for letting me post the photo. Credits to Carlos Garcia Rawlins.

Happy Birthday Briggs!

Briggs turns six today. Lo, these many years ago he popped out at about 530 in the morning after along night of pushing and pulling at our house in Richmond. Libby did it with the help of a midwife and me safely at the far end of the house. In my defense I was there at the last to help in what little ways I could. Carolyn P stayed over to help Eli put everything in perspective. 1/14 was also my dad's birthday, and my grandfather's. A propitious day, indeed!